Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. He is there when the new little family almost splits up. He is even Emmanuel when the dreams of wonderful Christmas trees come crashing down.
QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK: EMMANUEL: JOY IN THE MIDST - Oh Christmas Tree
Describe a time when a Christmas celebration didn’t quite go as planned.
Read Matthew 1:18-25. How does Joseph’s life not quite go as planned? How does God work anyway?
Read Matthew 9: 9-13. Why did Jesus eat with Matthew’s friends? Why did the Pharisees complain about it?
Think of some shortcomings in your life? What does it mean that Emmanuel comes even for those times?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
When we treat time like a shrinking commodity, our families and neighbors can feel like frustrating interruptions. This week, we see how Jesus frees us to see those interruptions as gifts.
Bible study traced Mark 9:2–50 into Mark 10:1–52, emphasizing humility over status, protecting “little ones,” radical measures against sin, God’s design for marriage, childlike faith, the danger of wealth, servant greatness, and true spiritual vision.
The shoes you put on every day when you work or shop are actually a mask of God, they are the very way He walks into the world to provide for His creation.
What a great weekend. We welcomed in 12 new members at Grace Lutheran PSL. We Also celebrated Pastor Cris’ 10th anniversary at Grace.
This sermon could just as easily be titled YHWH I AM EGO EIMI. Today we are going to take a journey to the Land of Holiness. When we get there, we will still be here.. Yes, that is a paradox. No, we are not going to leave this sanctuary. This is a journey of the heart, of the soul. Once we know where holiness lives, it will come alive in us.